Windshield wiper



March 18, 1952 w. P. OZAROWSKI WINDSHIELD WIPE-R Original Filed May 18, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER P DZAHUWEKI 1,, 42 I v I ATTORNEY ;-windshield wiper, generally designated l2, :mountedto be driven-by the' shaft I I of any or the usual driving-mechanism (-notshown) Patented Mar. 18, 1 952 Original application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,802. Divided and this'application'April27, 1949, Serial No. 89,901

(oil-15 255) 7 Claims.

This invention'relates to new and useful improvements in windshield wipers.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved but simple and inexpensive means whereby the wiper blade of a windshield Wiper may be I easily and conveniently mounted on or removed from the actuating arm of the wiper.

An additional object is to provide a Windshield wiper blade including improved means for use in mounting such blade on the actuating arm of a windshield wiper.

Another object is toprovicle an improved wiper blade for a windshield wiper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment ofthe invention is shown. However; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and'modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention'and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of the windfshield wiper of the invention shown as mounted for the wiping of a windshield, but a portion of which is illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper mounting portion of the wiper, the hood being in an open 7 position;

'Fig. 3 isan'exploded view showing various "parts of the wiper;

Fig. 4 is an "elevational-y iew cf: theiinner" side ofthe wiperarm;

' structure and "the"'=wiper arm, the parts being perspective and r Fig. 6isan isometric View of an' -adapter employed when the drive shaft of the windshield wiper is'threaded.

The:present application issa division-of my -:application Serial Number 27,802; filed May 18, 1948, now- Patent 'Number 2;576,07'7; November 20, 1951.

Referring in detail to the drawing, at It] is My improved when -said mechanism is in use.

I is

l My improved wiper 42 includes anelongated I12 *blade driving arm I 3 ;'a "coupling part I 4' w which the arm I 3 is connected and' by 'which' the arm 'I 3 :"is' given' afpendulum-like' movement, aJhood I5 "and awiper'b'lade' generally designated I6. The

arm I3 "is-preferably of a transparent synthetic -T'resin'or-the like molded into the desiredshape and rigid "with saidarm' and extending beyond the upper 'endthereof is a rod II. Where the arm I3 is of a molded'plastic or thelike, the rod I I maybe molded right into the? arm 'butextends through the upper end of the latter and'beyond thearm has its'endi portion bent'to 'provide'a "portion I8 "extending transversely or laterally or crosswise of "the arm.

Mounted on the outer side of 'theiupper' portion of the arm I 3 isa flat spring'device wha'ving its lower, portion"rigidly "secured to thearm as'by screws 20 and'having its 'uppe'rportion extending a considerable "distance beyond thebent end" 'I 8 ofthe rod I'Iand slightly offset or' inclined-inwardlyas at M.- Thebentend portion I8 ofthe rod I1 pa'sses"through" anopening -22 extending transverselyfth'roughthe solid outer end :portion of-the coupling part 14; In" this"way,'the*'arm" -I3 is mounted on the 'part I4 for pivotal moveme'nt relative thereto in Tone plane but 'is' fixed tothe 'part to impart penduluml'ike' movement to the arm I3 when the part I4 is oscilla'teddue to its "connection with the'sha'ft II, al1as-will appear. When the bentend I8"of' the rodis extended through theopening 22in the coupling part, 'it is clear that the'fiat spring means 19 is extending across and above the'outer end of said ooupling part. .Opening'throu'ghthe inner'en'd of 'thecou-I pling art l lis asocket 23 of a'diameter to convenientlyreceive the shaft I I."Exter'iding -'la-terally or radially from the inner portion 'of the couplingis a tubular'means 24 through wl'iich extends a 'plunger' 25'having an innerendportion '26 designed to extend transversely acrossthe socket 23 and through atransverse" 'holein the received endportion of the shaft l l wherebyto key thejpart M to-"s'ai'd shaft for oscillating movementwiththelatt'er. I I

' Outvi'la'rdly of the iritirliio'ri 2 6} the plunger 2 5 is provided with a co11ar 2Tand"acoil*spring 28 surrounds "the" plunger outwardly oi saidcollar 2'! and at its inner' end bearsagainst thecollar. A plug 29 threaded'into the outerend ofthe'extension '24 helps to "centrally locate'the l plunger with respect to said tubular 'extension and provides a stop against which theouter end of the spring" 28 engages. Theteiisiorr of said spring will be regulated threading the plu 29 i'n'o're or less into the extension 24.

Preferably, the plunger includes an outer button-like head portion 30 for use in manually manipulating the plunger to withdraw its portion 26 from a position extending transversely of the socket 23 and through the mentioned opening in the shaft I I whereby the windshield wiper may be removed from said shaft. Then to again mount the wiper on the shaft, the plunger is drawn outwardly and coupling I4 slipped over the shaft to align the inner end of the plunger with the mentioned hole through shaft I I after which, on release of the plunger, spring 28 will function to shift the plunger inwardly to have it pass through the shaft and key the coupling to the latter.

On the upper side of the coupling part and, if

desired, integral therewith is a barrel or tubular part 3I mounting a plunger 32 for movement through its outer end. Within said barrel is a coil spring 33 bearing at its forward end against the plunger and at its inner end against a plug 34 threaded into the inner end of the barrel. Clearly, the spring 33 constantly tends to keep the plunger projected through the forward end of the barrel and it will also be clear that the strength of the spring may be varied by adjusting the plug 34 more or less into the barrel.

At its forward end the plunger 32 bears against the inner side of the inwardly offset upper end portion 2| of the fiat spring means I9. Thus, it will be understood that when the wiper is mounted on the shaft II, the spring pressed plunger engaging the flat spring I9 tends to rock the driving arm I3 of the plunger about the pivotal connection, formed by the bent end I8 of the rod and the opening 22 of the coupling, in a direction to have the wiper blade I6 pressed against the windshield. The pressure of the blade on the windshield may be varied or adjusted by varying or adjusting the position of the plug 34 longitudinally of the barrel 31.

To cover and protect and partly conceal some of the above described mechanism, the hood I is provided. This hood is also preferably of a transparent plastic or resin and in transverse section is somewhat U-shaped whereby it is open at its inner side and includes opposite side walls and an outer wall 35 and an upper end wall 35. Hood I5 is pivotally mounted on the arm I3 as by a screw 31, the shank of which is threaded into a socket 31a in the arm. The hood is of a length and of a width so that in its closed position, as in Fig. 1, it receives the upper outer end portion of the arm I3 and the flat spring means plunger 32. Thus, these parts are concealed and are somewhat protected.

Additionally, since the hood in this position straddles the outer end portion of the coupling I4, lateral movement of the arm I3 with respect to the coupling, in the direction of the length of the bent end I8 of the rod I1, is prevented so that said rod portion may not move out of the opening 22 and the entire wiper arm and its parts are maintained operatively mounted on and connected with the coupling I4. The hood may be swung to an open position as suggested in Fig. 2 and at this time it will be seen that by moving arm I3 laterally in the direction of the length of the bent end I8 of the rod I1, such bent end may be withdrawn from the opening 22 and the wiper arm and its parts detached from the coupling part I4. This may be for repair or replacement of the removed wiper by another.

To maintain the hood in its closed position of Fig. 1, arm I3 is shown as mounting a spring pressed pin 38 which may engage in a dimple or recess 39 in the inner surface of a side wall of the hood when the latter is in a closed position. The described means is not intended as a lock but is merely intended as a means to prevent casual opening of the hood or casual movement of the hood to or toward the position of Fig. 2.

The wiper blade I6 comprises a back it of a stiff material. This back may be and preferably is formed of asuitable transparent plastic and, as shown, comprises an elongated body generally rectangular in transverse section and having a slot 4| opening through one longitudinal edge. A squeegee 42 is mounted in the channel 4! and extends outwardly therefrom and is also elongated and of substantially the length of the back 40. This squeegee, as shown, is made up of a number of flexible rubber strips of graduated widths with the strip of the greatest width comprising the center strip.

A bracket construction 43 comprising a channel member straddles the mid portion of the back 40 and is secured thereto as by means of screws 44 passing through the side walls of the saddle-like device and threaded into openings 45 in the back. Mounted on theouter or connecting wall of the bracket 43 is a mounting means generally designated 46 and comprising a blocklike body 41 which rests against said outer wall of the bracket and is secured thereto as by screws 48 passing through openings 49 in the outer wall of the bracket and threaded into sockets 50 in the block.

Outwardly or above the block or body 41, the means 45 includes an arcuate portion 54 having flat sides from which project studs or journal elements 52. Such studs or journal elements 52 are in alignment and may comprise portions of the same rod or bar or may be separate pieces suitably anchored. From the above, it will be seen that the assembled blade l6 comprises the back 40 carrying the squeegee and the bracket :13 secured to the back and in turn mounting the means 46.

In its inner side, toward its lower end, the drive bar I3 is provided with a slot 53 which opens through the lower end of the bar. Disposed on the lands or bar portions at each side of said slot are spring fingers 54 and 55. These fingers are secured in place as by screws 56 passing through the upper end portions of the fingers and preferably the fingers also have their extreme upper end portions bent upon themselves and imbedded in the stock of the bar I3. as at 51.

The fingers are of spring stock and clearly their portions below the screws 56 may flex with respect to the bar I3. The lower ends or the free ends of the fingers are preferably bent outwardly as at 58. The above described lands or the bar portions at the respective sides of the slot 53 are intermediate their ends provided with arcuate depressions or recesses 59 and opposite such depressions or recesses, the fingers 54 and 55. are outwardly offset, also in arcuate form, as at'60.

To assemble the wiper blade I6 on the arm I3, the studs or journals 52 are brought under the outturned ends 58 of the fingers 54 and 55 with the arcuate portion 5| of the means 46 aligned with the open end of the slot or groove or channel 53. Then by relative longitudinal movement of the wiper and the bar I3 toward one another, the studs or journals 52 are carried under the spring fingers 54 and 55 and snap into therecesses 59 with their outer sides engaged by'the offset portions 60 of the fingers. In this way,

ii "fluent;"on"'oscillation' "of"the"coup1ing [4, a simf'il'afm'ovement will" be imparted to the wiper blade I 6. The spring pressed "plunger 32 bear- "ii'ig-el'gaiiiist'the inwardly oiis'et end portion of the "fiatspringmember' "l 9;there is a" tendency for the' wiper"'arm' I3 toro'ckon' its pivotal connecfibif' v vi th"thCbupling liw'h'ereby" to thrust the "squeegee '42'61' the'wiper'blade against th'windshield.

"The described pivotal connection between the arm and the coupling is the result of the ofiset end portion I8 of the bar l1 passing through the opening 22 in the outer end portion of the coupling. When the wiper blade 16 is no longer fully useful, it may be detached from the arm 13 vbya downward pull on the wiper blade or by pressure -on the blade in the direction of its ----length. "This forces the studs or pins 52 out- --wardly beneam managers" 54 and 55' with the arcuate portion}; l of'the means" 46 passing downwardly throughthe groove'or channel 53. Thus, it =will' be seen that thewiper blade is easily mounted-on the arm-l3-and is easily removed therefrom for replacement or the like.

Where the windshield wiper motor or motive means has a. threaded shaft of smaller diameter than the shaft II, or of any other diameter, an adaptor is threaded onto said shaft and then the coupling [4 mounted on said adaptor. Such an adaptor is shown in Fig. 6 and the same comprises a transversely circular bar portion 6| having a threaded socket 62 opening through one end to be threaded onto a threaded drive shaft. This body 6| may be provided with flats 63 to be engaged by a suitable wrench or the like for tightening the coupling on the drive shaft. Intermediate its ends, adaptor or body 6! is provided with a, transverse opening 64 through which the locking portion 26 of the spring pressed plunger 25 may pass for keying the coupling M to the adaptor after the latter has been threaded onto a drive shaft.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a windshield wiper, a blade driving arm, said arm having a channel opening through one side and an end thereof, a pair of spring fingers fastened to said arm and extending one at each side of said channel and along the land portions of the arm at each side of said channel, said arm having aligned recess portions through said lands at the respective sides of the channel, a wiper blade having a fiat-sided block on its outer side of a width to be received in said channel, a journal element extending from each side of said block and adapted to be received in said recesses, and said wiper blade adapted to be mounted on said arm by inserting said journal elements under said spring fingers and aligning the block with said channel and then causing relative movement of the arm and wiper in the direction of the length of the arm to carry said elements under said fingers and into alignment with said recesses whereupon said fingers press said elements into said recesses whereby tial "relativeflateral movement b etweerr the blade andtrrm.

In a windshield wiper, wiper blade comprising an elongated stiff back portion having a "longitudinal channel opening througl'i' an edge,

"tending" beyond the same, a U shaped" bracket squeegee'means mounted in said channel and exstraddling and mountedon the mid 'portion'of said back and having "its connecting portion againstand extending across the edge thereof oppositethat' throughwhich said channel' opens and having itsa'rms embracing the'sides of 'said -back, means" securing said arms to said: back" at points spaced'longitudinally of the back'whereby "saidbr'acket is'fix'ed to the back againstmovement relative thereto, a' rigid mounting means on the connecting portion 'of"said"bra'cket and "including a block secured against'saidportion and" ''an outwardly projecting flat sided portion on said block, said portion arcua'te on its outer edge; and a journalmeans'rigid with said portion and comprising journaleleme'nts extending fr'ome'ach side of 'saidflat'sided portion.

;3."In a windshield'wiper, a wiper blade comprising an elongated s'tiif'back portion of a transparent material having a longitudinal channel opening through an edge, squeegee 'means mounted in said channel and extending beyond the same, a U-shaped bracket mounted on'the mid portion of said back and having its connecting portion against and extending across the edge thereof opposite that through which said channel opens and having its arms embracing the sides of said back, means securing said arms to said back at points spaced longitudinally of the back whereby said bracket is fixed to'the back against movement relative thereto, a rigid mounting means on the connecting portion of said bracket and including a block rigidly secured against said portion and an outwardlyprojecting flat sided portion rigid with said block, said portion arcuate on its outer edge, and a journal means rigid with said portion and comprising journal elements extending from each side of said flat sided portion.

4. In a windshield wiper, a blade driving arm, said arm having a channel opening through one side and an end thereof, said arm having aligned recess portions through the land portions of the arm at each side of said channel, a wiper blade having a fiat side block on its outer side of a 5 Width to be received in said channel, journals extending from opposite sides of said block and adapted to be received in said recesses, said wiper blade adapted to be mounted on said arm by aligning the block with said channel and then causing relative movement of the arm and wiper in the direction of the length of the arm to carry said journal elements into alignment with said recesses, and means on said arms to then press said elements into said recesses whereby the elements and recesses mount the blade for rocking movement on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm and said block being located in said channel prevents'substantial relative lateral movement between the blade and arm.

5. In a windshield wiper, a blade driving arm member, a wiper blade member including a stiff back, cooperating means on said blade back and said arm for detachably mounting the blade on the arm, said cooperating means including journal elements on one of said members and recesses in the other member to receive said journal elements, said journal elements extending transversely of said back and intermediate the ends thereof, and spring means on one of said members and bearing against said journal elements and maintaining said cooperating means in cooperative relation While permitting said blade member to be mounted on and dismounted from said arm member by relative longitudinal movements of said members.

6. In a windshield wiper, a blade driving arm member, a wiper blade member including a stifi back, cooperating means on said blade back and said arm for detachably mounting the blade on the arm, said cooperating means including journal elements on one of said members and recesses in the other member to receive said journal elements, said journal elements extending transversely of said back intermediate the ends thereof, spring means on one of said members and bearing against said journal elements and maintaining said cooperating means in cooperative relation, said spring means' including elongated spring arms under which said journal elements are passed to enter said recesses and by which said journal elements are yieldingly held in said recesses, and said spring arms permitting of mounting of said blade member on and dismounting of the same from said arm member by relative longitudinal movements of said members.

'7. In a Windshield wiper blade, an elongated stiff back portion having a longitudinal channel opening through an edge, squeegee means mounted in said channel and extending beyond the same, a U-shaped bracket straddling and mounted on said back, said bracket having its arms engaging the sides of said back and its connecting portion against the edge of the back opposite that through which said channel opens, a block on the outer side of the connecting portion of said bracket, screws passing through the connecting portion of said bracket and into said block and securing saidparts together, spaced means rigidly securing the arms of said bracket against the sides of said back, an outwardly projecting flat sided portion on said block, said portion arcuate on its outer edge, and aligned journal elements projecting from the fiat sides of said flat sided portion for use in mounting said blade on a wiper arm.

WALTER P. OZAROWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,196,542 Zaiger Apr. 9, 1940 2,234,709 Rodrick Mar. 11, 1941 2,270,589 Hansenw Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 489,352 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1938 

